Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot

Ch. 18

The school was going positively mad.

When I had woken up this morning, I found an owl waiting on my desk with a letter tied to its foot. I groggily viewed the letter, which happened to come from Dumbledore and the rest of the staff. It read,

Miss Granger,

The staff has seen it fit to have a wondrous winter ball this December the 16th. We want the students to be able to take a break from their classes as everyone's marks have been excellent this year. Consider this a little reward for yourself as well. We request that you attend a meeting this Wednesday regarding you and the Head Boy to continue discussing this event.

Best Wishes,

Albus Dumbledore.

News traveled fast around Hogwarts. By the time I had gone to breakfast, everyone was talking about it, potentially scoping out possible dates with their eyes as they did. I paid no attention. I didn't see how not being asked to some little ball could get people so upset. Sure, it would be flattering to be asked, but if I wasn't, that was fine too. Some of the girls, Lavender for example, would probably cry if she wasn't asked. Then again, she was one of the most beautiful girls in our grade, with long flowing golden hair and perfect features, not to mention her flawless figure. Every guy wanted her, and at this rate, she was probably turning down dates! Me, on the other hand? I would say I was quite the opposite of her. I was medium height, not too tall and not too short, with small breasts and a small butt, and crazy curly hair. I didn't have a button nose, or nice full lips, or pretty colored eyes. I was just average.

I was okay with that though. I had learned to appreciate the beauty in myself, and besides, there were more things besides beauty in life, and let's just say that Lavender Brown wasn't the smartest of the bunch. After breakfast, I went back to the common room for a bit of light reading. I didn't have any classes today as I thought I had, waking up and thinking that it was Monday instead of Sunday. Luckily I had been wrong. The common room was empty. I sat down in my favorite chair and took out a new book that I had just started yesterday. I was fifty pages in and it was really starting to get interesting. I sat there for a few minutes, before a pair or warm hands clasped over my eyes. A certain someone had quite a habit of doing that to me.

"Ron!" I exclaimed, putting my hands over his and lifting them over my eyes. Once I could see again, I turned around, seeing his smiling face. For some reason I was surprised to see that Harry was not at his side.

"Hey you", he said, before lifting me from my chair and enveloping me in his arms. I sighed at the contact, and wrapped my arms around his neck. Lately I had been having this want to be around him all the time, and when I got the chance, it was bliss. My knees pressed into the chair's soft seat cushion as he supported me. When we let go, I stood up for a moment and he dived into my chair.

"Hey!" I slapped his arm. Crossing my arms, I sat on the arm of the chair, before he put a hand around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. Ron and I had always been questioned for the way we acted around each other, and were often been mistaken for girlfriend and boyfriend. We weren't shy with one another, and often hugged. Then there were times like this.

Ron rested his head against my arm and sighed.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, looking at him. Lately he had been acting a bit morose, and sometimes even moody.

He paused for a moment.

"Do you feel like we're losing our friendship?"

I was speechless, because I hadn't realized he had been thinking that way too.

"What are you saying Ronald? You, Harry and I are perfectly fine. Just because he's been a little busy with Ginny –"

"Come off it Hermione, you know what I meant."

When he used my full name, a lot of the times it meant he was being serious. I looked down at my hands, peeking at him through my eyelashes when I needed to see the expression on his face.

"What do you want me to say Ron? I feel like if we acknowledge it, it could actually make it worse. What if it's just a phase? Our friendship has always been…" I paused there, because I could find a word to describe it.

"Rough?" Ron replied timidly. I nodded.

"Maybe it's my fault then." He continued, playing with a seam on my jean. I knew why he had said it. Although we had never really said anything out loud, it was obvious that we liked each other at certain stages of our friendship, and it lingered, showing itself here and there. He had also been the first to kind of admit that he had liked me, but it to everyone it had been obvious. Even Harry could see it.

"Well then maybe we should discuss this when I'm not sitting on your lap", I said, smiling wryly. He smiled at my humor and then looked at me with an unfathomable gaze.

"I've really missed you, Mione."

I smiled. "I've missed you more." He beamed. Why couldn't we work? Something inside of me told me that wasn't really what I wanted from him. But where was that coming from exactly? My brain or my heart?

I hugged him again and when I pulled away, Dean Thomas was entering through the portrait whole.

"I need to ask you something." Ron said to me, slightly timid yet content at the same time. At the moment he opened his mouth, I heard Dean's voice instead.

"Hey Hermione", he said to me, smiling. He looked me up and down and then said, "Do you think we could have a little talk later? Maybe before dinner?" he glanced at Ron, but then looked away furtively. He must've not liked the look that Ron had given him. I fought the urge to laugh. I was confused. Dean and I rarely talked, and when we did, it was mostly him asking for me for help in a subject or to send a message to Ron or Harry.

"Sure?" I smiled. He grinned at me and then brushed his fingers over mine.

"I'll see you later then." He said gently, before going up to the boy's dormitory.

How weird.

Once he had left, I looked down to see that Ron's fingers had been gripping my waist, and that he had a rather stony look on his face.

"Ron? You said you had something to tell me?" I wondered if he was mad. He stayed silent for a moment and then took his hand from my waist.

"Forget what I said. I should go now. I promised Professor Binns that I'd see him about my essay."

I knew that wasn't the real reason why he wanted to leave.

"I can help you with that!" I said in earnest, trying to get him to stay. But he had already gently taken me off of his lap and started towards the door. When he reached to turn the knob, I gave it one last try.

"Ron?" I whispered quietly. He turned slightly, letting me see the hurt look on his face. "Talk to me."

He paused for a moment and opened the door wider.

"There's nothing to talk about Mione."

Then he left me, confused and alone in the Gryffindor Common Room, the only sound being the door slamming shut.

VVVVV

Draco's POV

Were they serious?

A winter ball sounded stupid and unnecessary to me, especially since I would have to be partially responsible for decorating it, making sure the students were satisfied with it, and find a date. These created a series of problems.

One, I didn't want to be in charge of anything I didn't care about, including this stupid, pointless ball.

Two, I didn't give a flying fuck if the students would be happy or not.

And the third was the worst of all. Out of all the girls at Hogwarts, I couldn't think of anyone I would want to be my date. No one in my league had the full package that I would want, beauty, brains, talent, and wit. Blood status counted too I suppose, but as long as I didn't go with a squib I would be fine.

At least they weren't assigning dates. Then there would be a chance that I would get stuck with Millicent Bulstrode or Eloise Midgen, maybe even one of the talkative, gossipy Patil twins. But at least those two were pretty. The only person that I could think of possibly taking or the only one that would want to go with me at all would be Pansy. Of course, I would have to apologize for the last time we were together, when I had actually and accidentally yelled out Granger's name.

Granger.

I imagined asking her. We got along now anyways, and she was decent. She was smart, witty, and as much as I wouldn't like to admit it, very, very pretty, especially when she dressed up. She rarely did, the last time I had ever seen her in a dress was fourth year, and she rarely wore makeup. The few times I had seen her wear makeup would be if she had a date, or sometimes even around Weasley. Here and there I would see her wearing gloss, or some of that eye stuff that all the girls had on. I would be stupid to say that it didn't enhance her beauty, but she really didn't need it. I quite preferred her the way she was when she was with me, sometimes in a simple jumper and jeans or her school shirt and skirt, sans robe or tie.

Although I thought these things, I would never admit them, not to her or to anyone, not even Blaise. We weren't even friends, me and Hermione. Thinking to ask her, thinking that she would ever say yes?

That was just stupid.

It looked like I would be going solo, or end up going with Pansy.

Deal with a nagging, frivolous, yet extremely attractive girl by my side all night, practically trying to fuck me in public?

Or go alone and see what comes out of it? I had about three weeks to figure it out.

At least I knew I wouldn't be taking Granger.

Not now, not ever.

VVVVV

Hey guys! I know it's been awhile since I've updated, schools been pretty hard on me, but I promise I will try and update whenever I can! I just want to thank all of you that have been sticking with the story! As for Draco/Hermione, they didn't have an encounter in this chapter, but that was because I wanted to show that Hermione has had a bit of a past with Ron and that they are close. Ron will be becoming even more involved in this story, and there will be some encounters with him against Draco, but we'll see how that goes! Thanks for reading and I hope you review! Please? Comments and constructive criticism are most welcomed! Also, who do you think Hermione, Ron and Draco should go to that ball with? Love to all!